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Post by charlotte21 on Oct 31, 2010 16:47:21 GMT
Hello, me and my partner are thinking of buying two Degu's ;D as they are the most adorable thing ever, we have researched a lot on the internet and even though they seem to be one of the harder pets to look after, we would still like to get them. Before we buy two, we would like some more info from you to ensure that we are making the right decisions; - Would it be better to get boys or girls?
- How hard are they to tame? as we would like a pet that we can handle on a regular basis.
- Is there any important information that we aren't likely to find on the internet?
We have both had pets before cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, fish... but these are completely different when it comes to there care so please help us. Any information on the subjects shown above or any other information that is important or that you would like to share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Lee and Charlotte. |
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Post by arumanii on Oct 31, 2010 21:26:23 GMT
Opinion rather than factual answers coming right up! 1. Girls - far less testosterone so generally get along easier in more situations. Oh and girls are just better  2. Depends. (that summed that one up easily!) If they've been handled from a young age then they're pretty easy. Most people dont get cuddley degus though. I think on this forum most people say their goos will enjoy being stroked or tickled but not sit on their knees and cuddle up to go to sleep. Mine are ruled by a VERY friendly goo so they will all cuddle up on us each evening in front of the tele (or she'd have to go round them back up). But these lot appear to be the exception rather than the rule. So, it really depends what kind of relationship you're looking for and how much time you have to spend building it... 3. I've found pretty much everything you'll need is on Degutopia or can be found in the brains that haunt this forum if you ask!  |
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Post by smux on Oct 31, 2010 21:46:55 GMT
Aru summed it up pretty much, however...
1. She's a girl, so she picked soppy girls. You're a girl, you'll probably want girls, your partner probably wants boys, so you're looking for the facts about each gender to pick based on those factors. Aru's right there though, less testosterone...if you're getting babies, you're going to be in for a year of possible hell during puberty if they're boys, and girls just don't seem to be affected quite as badly. Also, girls do dry-humping for dominance only, boys tend to do it to "get off" and let off some steam sometimes, it's that or something I'd rather not describe but the boy degu does it without help from anyone else (yes, even teenage degus learn of those pleasures, and seeing as they're being kept from females they never forget it)...if there's any chance young children (now or in the future) are going to have them around, girls are your better option as there'll be less to explain.
2. Degus from a pet shop are a no-no, they don't get the interactions required for tameness and you're likely to get a degu that needs taming from step 1 of a lengthy process. Get your degus from a breeder (or someone who has had "accidental babies") and you will probably find that they have been better treated and are hand-tame from day one so most of the process of integration into your life has been done and all you need to do is get them used to you. However, ALL degus have the potential to be just like Aru's, or any level of tame inbetween or perhaps even more so, it's all down to perseverance and the time and effort you put into it.
ALTERNATIVELY consider adopting some who need a home from our adoption section here, you will find that most degu owners will give you 100% of the truth about the degu's history and will be there for advice about their quirks and such. It isn't important that you're not an experienced degu owner, to be interested in housing and owning a degu and to be a member of this forum and interested in gaining that experience should be enough for most owners, and you always have the backup of us if you ever need any advice about them.
3. Same as Aru again, we're here to help if only just to ensure a degu is being treated properly.
Your best option? Two (or more) female babies around the 6-10 week old mark, from a breeder who has hand-tamed them and preferably who definitely knows they're all female (gender ambiguity is a major issue with degus)
Of course, as with Aru, this is all personal opinion...we all have opinions, and it's up to you to choose which one you think is best :-)
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Post by nickymills30 on Oct 31, 2010 21:52:20 GMT
i can't comment on gender as i only have boys, and they do play up lol, and it is sometimes hard to explain to my 6 year old son, what they are doing  , but i wouldn't change them for the world. and if you where to adopt a goo/goo's they may well be past the 12 month mark, so not to hormonal lol |
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Post by smux on Oct 31, 2010 22:23:20 GMT
Same here, I love my boys and girls equally and wouldn't change them for anything now I've goown to understand and connect with them...I've often thought to myself about this, and I came to the conclusion that we feel this way in hindsight but when the time comes to make the choice we've not got that hindsight to look back on so it could just as easily have been 4 girls I got rather than 4 boys and I would be saying the exact opposite about boys possibly. No matter how much I think about it though, I can't imagine anyone else looking after my boys :-)
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Post by nickymills30 on Oct 31, 2010 22:25:28 GMT
my thoughts exactly smux xx
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 1, 2010 4:22:52 GMT
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Post by arumanii on Nov 1, 2010 19:55:49 GMT
She's a girl, so she picked soppy girls. hahaha! Too true! (plus boys smell ) |
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Post by amie on Nov 2, 2010 0:16:53 GMT
I'm defending the boys! LOL. I haven't had girls so I wouldn't know what they're like, but my boys are lovely. It's taken a lot of hard work as very badly on my part, they were pet-shop bought and just weren't handled very much, so were much harder to tame. I was weak - felt sorry for them - and fell in love, it happens. BUT, I don't advise to from a pet shop (who am I to talk? lol). I think either way, they'll never bore you whether they're male or female |
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Post by nuttz on Nov 2, 2010 9:30:07 GMT
**boys tend to do it to "get off" and let off some steam sometimes, it's that or something I'd rather not describe but the boy degu does it without help from anyone else (yes, even teenage degus learn of those pleasures, and seeing as they're being kept from females they never forget it)...if there's any chance young children (now or in the future) are going to have them around, girls are your better option as there'll be less to explain.** explain please...lol are you talking when they clean their lil bits??? that is what theyre doing, right?  ?? OMG...........youre not saying they are...............doing that are you? lmao typical males, how very rude!!!  |
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Post by charlotte21 on Nov 2, 2010 10:24:14 GMT
lol thank you for all the comments, some made me laugh (boys do smell) I really appreciate all the help and you have helped confirm our decision to adopt two baby girls "Woo Hoo" once we are set up we shall take some pics and let you know how they are going on, thanks again you were very helpful... |
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Post by nuttz on Nov 2, 2010 10:33:44 GMT
i would say the most important thing is...to make SURE they are both the same sex! as for which gender...i dont think it should make much difference, my boys are lovely...........and definitely dont smell |
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Post by arumanii on Nov 2, 2010 18:36:18 GMT
i would say the most important thing is...to make SURE they are both the same sex! Well said, Nuttz!! |
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Post by smux on Nov 3, 2010 14:39:54 GMT
please...lol are you talking when they clean their lil bits??? that is what theyre doing, right? ?? OMG...........youre not saying they are...............doing that are you??? Indeed they are. If their head is moving up and down slowly they are anyway, they might be just cleaning their bits instead. But bear in mind they're kept with other guys and no access to girls, so they have to do something or they'd explode, so just let them do it and don't watch them :-P I think with girls that there are more dominance issues, but with boys the dominance issues involve a bit more fighting than with girls and dominance heirarchy isn't as unstable with girls as with boys so girls are a better choice if you have more than 2 (you may choose to expand your brood in future). Generally there'll be less fighting among girls as the rest will usually accept who the boss is and not try to usurp her leadership. I guess when it comes down to it, you choose girls if you want an easy life or it's your first degu ownership, and boys if you don't mind a little hassle or you're a degu pro. Saying that, reading up on degus should be enough to become a pro, my first degu buy was 4 boys :-) |
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Post by nuttz on Nov 3, 2010 15:00:56 GMT
**If their head is moving up and down slowly they are anyway, they might be just cleaning their bits instead. But bear in mind they're kept with other guys and no access to girls, so they have to do something or they'd explode, so just let them do it and don't watch them **
ewwwwww, TBH im not 100% sure they are doing that? are they??? lol male dogs dont do that, well my 3 boy dogs dont and my male cat doesnt either, surely theyre just cleaning themselves, well i prefer to think they are anyways ;D
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Post by deguconvert on Nov 3, 2010 15:27:37 GMT
You go ahead and think that. LOL! From what I have observed of our three boys . . . well . . . you just go ahead and think what makes you feel best. I got to the point where I just DON'T think about THAT. I have informed others of this particular . . . habit . . . but then I forget about it again. If I happen to catch them at "it" then I leave the room. LOL! |
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Post by nuttz on Nov 3, 2010 16:08:34 GMT
well i can quite honestly say this subject has grossed me out...lol i really truely didnt think they were doing THAT how rude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lololol |
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Post by smux on Nov 3, 2010 19:45:42 GMT
Dogs don't LOOK like they're doing it, but when it looks like they're attentively cleaning they just might be doing more than cleaning...and they always have their master's leg as a standby, of course.
Put simply, probably all male animals have to "relieve stress" somehow if they don't have access to a female, we can hardly blame them. If at all possible it would be a good idea to have a fixed female in their cage but then that opens them up to something else that we wouldn't consider right in polite company either :-)
Not to mention the amount of rough treatment the female might go through, I'm not sure if they would want that. However, they'll live a longer life because of either the solo way mentioned above or having a female around, all to do with stress levels and keeping calm/contented :-P
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Post by amie on Nov 3, 2010 19:56:19 GMT
Would playing them videos of girly goos be enough to attend to their needs? LOL - SO KIDDING! I haven't seen them doing that AT ALL, but they do eat their own poo.... as it's coming out - so nice  |
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Post by smux on Nov 3, 2010 20:01:19 GMT
Sorry to spoil it, but only your degu does that and now you've grossed us all out with that admission that your degus are into coprophagy...ewwwwwww!
Okay, okay, I lied...they even try to get us into it by throwing their leftovers at us :-)
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, but i wouldn't change them for the world. 
